Darren Shan??

8 replies

flixx · 22/12/2008 20:19

My DD(9) has been lent a book by her teacher by the author Darren Shan.

I'm slightly concerned that in the opening chapter a boy finds his parents dead. It seems to be an innaproriate book for a 9 year old but I'm not sure wether I am over reacting.

Does anyone have any experince of this author and are his books usually aimed at children?

OP posts:

DisenchantedPlusBump · 22/12/2008 20:24

Ive read his series of books, i lent them the past year from my cousin who is 14.

I have no experience of 9 year olds (mine are still toddlers) so can't say whether they are appropriate.

All i CAN say is that I read the 'vampire' series and found them to be enjoyable an tame,

but the book you are describing (not part of the vampire series, but a seperate one) actulally freaked me out and I didn't read it past about a third of the way through

DisenchantedPlusBump · 22/12/2008 20:26

Just to clarify I think I would be alot happier with her reading the vampire series than the demons.

But perhaps at 9, I would rather neither!

Original poster

flixx · 22/12/2008 20:28

think i'm going t go upstairs and take it off her!

Thanks disenchanted

OP posts:

pagwatch · 22/12/2008 20:29

they are childrens books.
My DS1 read them when he was about 10 I think.
they are a bit grizzly for a child but I actually thought the author generated very little empathy for any of the characters so I was a bit [meh] and actually Ds was too.

noonki · 22/12/2008 20:30

dss (12) loves them, but acknowledges they are trashy.

he also has a pretty high 'scare' factor

janeite · 23/12/2008 12:42

if it's the one I'm thinking of (sister dead too?) I read this one and found it overly gory and really not very well written. However they have been effective in getting boys reading. Then again, I wouldn't want a 9 year old of mine reading it. At school, they appeal to Years 8 and 9 on the whole.

AndHeaVanAnnNatureSing · 23/12/2008 12:46

Darren Shan is aimed at kids sadly. I certainly hope my DS doesn't develop a taste for his books when he's older, as I think they are entirely wrong for children. something a bit twisted about it all.

stitch · 23/12/2008 20:29

11 year old ds has read all of these books. and thisis a child who cannot normally be coerced into reading anything.
i amso pleassed he is reading, i have bought him the books, with one in a hard copy. i would rather he read something. rather than nothing at all.

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